Here is why the Soviets and Chinese feel a need for joint exercises. They both know that alone, neither could win a protracted battle with the US Navy, that only together would they stand any chance. Even that is an iffy proposition for them.
Modern Russian Navy
Russian Navy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
TAVKR "Admiral Kuznetsov".
The dissolution of the Soviet Union led to a severe decline in the Russian Navy. Defense expenditure was severely reduced. Many ships were scrapped or laid up as accommodation ships at naval bases, and the building program was essentially stopped. However Sergey Gorshkov's buildup during the Soviet period had emphasised ships over support facilities, and Gorshkov had also retained ships in service that were beyond their effective lifetimes, so a reduction was due anyway.[12] What made matters worse was the impractical variety of vessels which the Soviet military-industrial complex, with the support of the leadership, forced on the navy - taking modifications into account, the Soviet Navy in the mid 1980s had nearly 250 different ship types.[13] The Kiev class aircraft carrying cruisers and many other ships were prematurely retired, and the incomplete Admiral Kuznetsov class aircraft carrier Varyag was eventually sold to the People's Republic of China. Funds were only allocated for the completion of ships ordered prior to the collapse of the USSR, as well as for refits and repairs on fleet ships taken out of service since. However, the construction times for these ships tended to stretch out extensively: in 2003 it was reported that the Akula class SSN Nerpa had been under construction for fifteen years.[14] Storage of decommissioned nuclear submarines in ports such as Murmansk became a significant issue, with the Bellona Foundation reporting details of lowered readiness. Naval bases outside Russia, such as Cam Ranh Bay in Vietnam, were gradually closed, with the exception of the bases in the Crimea, leased from Ukraine to support the Black Sea Fleet, and the modest technical support base in Tartus, Syria to support ships deployed to the Mediterranean. Naval Aviation declined as well from its height as Soviet Naval Aviation, dropping from an estimated 60,000 personnel with some 1,100 combat aircraft in 1992 to 35,000 personnel with around 270 combat aircraft in 2006.[15] In 2002, out of 584 naval aviation crews only 156 were combat ready, and 77 ready for night flying. Average annual flying time was 21.7 hours, compared to 24 hours in 1999.[16] However since 2002 these figures may have improved[citation needed].
Training and readiness also suffered severely. In 1995 only two missile submarines at a time were being maintained on station, from the Northern and Pacific Fleets.[17] The decline culminated in the loss of the Oscar II class Kursk submarine during the Northern Fleet summer exercise that was intended to back up the publication of a new naval doctrine.[18] The exercise, involving some 30 submarines and surface ships, was to have culminated with the deployment of the Admiral Kuznetsov task group to the Mediterranean.
As of 2006, The Russian Navy has 50 nuclear submarines with only 26 operational compared to 170 vessels in 1991. The Navy plans to reduce the number to 20 submarines, including ten strategic missile submarines and ten multi-purpose (attack) submarines, according to unofficial reports.[19]
As of February 2008, The Russian Navy had 44 nuclear submarines with 24 operational; 19 diesel-electric submarines - 16 operational; and 56 first and second rank surface combatants - 37 operational.[20] Despite this improvement, the November 2008 accident on board the Akula-class attack boat Nerpa during sea trials before lease to India represents a concern for the future.[21]
In 2009, Admiral Popov (Ret.), former commander of the Russian Northern Fleet, said that the Russian Navy will greatly decline in combat capabilities by 2015 if the current rate of new ship construction remains unchanged, due to the retirement of ocean going ships.[22]
12.^ CSRC B58
13.^ Captain First Rank S Topichev, 'What Fleet we had and how it should be reformed today', Morskoy sbornik (in Russian), No.12, 1996, p.13, cited in Greg Austin & Alexey Muraviev, The Armed Forces of Russia in Asia, I.B. Tauris, London, 2000, p.209
14.^ Foreword to Jane's Fighting Ships 2003-2004, p.80
15.^ IISS Military Balance, 1992-93 and 2006 editions
16.^ Mikhail Khodarenok, 'Chernyy god Rossiyskogo Flota', NVO, 23 February 2001, cited in Mikhail Tsypkin, 'Rudderless in a Storm, CSRC B58, December 2002
17.^ IISS Military Balance 1997/98, p.102
18.^ Foreword to Jane's Fighting Ships 2001-02, p.80
19.^ 3rd Atomic Submarine of the 4th Generation to be Ready in 5 years (Kommersant)
20.^ Kommersant VLAST No.7(760) 25 February 2008
21.^ The Next Arms Race
22.^ Russian Navy could be in dire straits by 2015 - expert
Peoples Liberation Army Navy
People's Liberation Army Navy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Strategy, plans, priorities
Sailors shown in 2009 during 60th anniversary celebrations of the PLAN
The People's Liberation Army Navy has become more prominent in recent years owing to a change in Chinese strategic priorities. The new strategic threats include possible conflict with the United States and/or a resurgent Japan in areas such as the Taiwan Strait or the South China Sea. As part of its overall program of naval modernization, the PLAN has a long-term plan of developing a blue water navy.[1] Current modernizations, however, represent a naval force that is best suited to cooperation rather than competition with other world powers.[22]
Robert D. Kaplan has said that it was the collapse of the Soviet Union that allowed China to transfer resources from its army to its navy and other force projection assets.[23]
China is constructing a major underground nuclear submarine base near Sanya, Hainan. In December 2007 the first Type 094 submarine was moved to Sanya.[24] The Daily Telegraph on 1 May 2008 reported that tunnels were being built into hillsides which could be capable of hiding up to 20 nuclear submarines from spy satellites. According to the Western news media the base is reportedly to help China project seapower well into the Pacific Ocean area, including challenging United States naval power.[25][26]
During a 2008 interview with the BBC, Major General Qian Lihua, a senior Chinese defense official, stated that the PLAN aspired to possess a small number of aircraft carriers to allow it to expand China's air defense perimeter.[27] According to Qian the important issue was not whether China had an aircraft carrier, but what it did with it.[27]
At the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the PLAN, 52 vessels were shown in manoeuvres off Qingdao in April 2009 including previously unseen nuclear submarines. The demonstration was seen as a sign of the growing status of China, while the CMC Chairman, Hu Jintao, indicated that China is neither seeking regional hegemony nor entering an arms race.[28]
On 13 January 2009, Adm. Robert F. Willard, head of the U.S. Pacific Command, called the PLAN's modernization "aggressive," and that it raised concerns in the region.[29] On 15 July 2009, Senator Jim Webb of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee declared that only the "United States has both the stature and the national power to confront the obvious imbalance of power that China brings" to situations such as the claims to the Spratly and Paracel islands.[30]
Ronald O'Rourke of the Congressional Research Service writes that the PLAN "continues to exhibit limitations or weaknesses in several areas, including capabilities for sustained operations by larger formations in distant waters, joint operations with other parts of China’s military, C4ISR systems, anti-air warfare (AAW), antisubmarine warfare (ASW), MCM, and a dependence on foreign suppliers for certain key ship components."[31]
In September 2011 the PLAN made further steps to a blue water navy when its first aircraft carrier, the rebuilt ex-Soviet aircraft carrier Varyag, set to sea for its first sea trials.[32]
Japan has raised concerns about the PLAN's growing capability and the lack of transparency as its naval strength keeps on expanding.[33]
China has reportedly entered into service the world's first anti-ship ballistic missile called DF-21D. The potential threat from the DF-21D against U.S. aircraft carriers has reportedly caused major changes in U.S. strategy
Nuclear Ballistic Missile Submarines
4 active 1 reserve
Nuclear Attack Submarines
6 active X reserve
Conventional Ballistic Missile Submarines
1 active X reserve
Conventional Attack Submarines
52 active X reserve
Total Submarines
63 active 1 reserve
Principal Surface Combatants
Aircraft Carriers
1 active X reserve
Destroyers
25 active X reserve
Frigates
47 active X reserve
Total Principal Surface Combatants
73 active
Coastal Warfare Vessels
Missile Boats
91 active X reserve
Patrol Boats
231 active X reserve
Total Coastal Warfare Vessels
332 active X reserve
Amphibious Warfare Vessels
Landing Platforms
2 active X reserve
Landing Ships
88 X reserve
Landing Craft
140 active 230 reserve
Total Amphibious Warfare Vessels
230 active 230 reserve
Mine Warfare Vessels
Mine Warfare Ships
52 active 40 reserve
Mine Warfare Drones
? active X reserve
Total Mine Warfare Vessels
52 active 40 reserve
Total Auxiliary/Support Vessels
219 active X reserve
Total All Vessels
962 active 271 reserve
Total Combat Vessels
515 active 41 reserve
22.^ a b "Why China's Naval Rise Could Help the World". The-diplomat.com. Retrieved 25 October 2010.
23.^ "China's Arrival: A Strategic Framework for a Global Relationship, page 50" (PDF). Retrieved 25 October 2010.
24.^ "Secret Sanya – China's new nuclear naval base revealed – Jane's Security News". Janes.com. 21 April 2008. Retrieved 25 October 2010.
25.^ Harding, Thomas, "Chinese Build Secret Nuclear Submarine Base", The Daily Telegraph (London), 2 May 2008.
26.^ Harding, Thomas, "Chinese Nuclear Submarines Prompt 'New Cold War' Warning", The Daily Telegraph (London), 3 May 2008.
27.^ a b "China has aircraft carrier hopes". BBC News. 17 November 2008. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
28.^ Kathrin Hille (24 April 2009). "China's show of sea power challenges US". Financial Times.
29.^ "China's 'aggressive' buildup called worry". The Washington Times. 14 January 2010. Retrieved 25 October 2010.
30.^ "US Reaffirms Its Rights to Operate in South China Sea". Voanews.com. 16 July 2009. Retrieved 25 October 2010.
31.^ Ronald O’Rourke (23 December 2009). "CRS RL33153 China Naval Modernization: Implications for U.S. Navy Capabilities–Background and Issues for Congress". Congressional Research Service. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
32.^ "China says its aircraft carrier succeeds in maiden sea trials | China Military Power Mashup". China-defense-mashup.com. 1 September 2011. Retrieved 18 March 2012.
33.^ "China sea power concerns new Japan foreign minister ‹ Japan Today: Japan News and Discussion". Japantoday.com. 3 September 2011. Retrieved 18 March 2012.
Current ships US Navy
List of current ships of the United States Navy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
There are currently 11 aircraft carriers, 22 cruisers, 60 destroyers, 29 frigates, 2 littoral combat ships, 9 amphibious assault ships, 2 amphibious command ships, 9 amphibious transport docks, 12 dock landing ships, 53 attack submarines, 14 ballistic missile submarines, 4 guided missile submarines, 14 mine countermeasures ships, 11 patrol boats, and 1 technical research ship (military intelligence ship, the USS Pueblo, which is currently held by North Korea).[1]
Support ships include 2 hospital ships, 4 salvage ships, 2 submarine tenders, 1 ammunition ship, 5 combat stores ships, 4 fast combat support ships, 9 dry cargo ships, 15 replenishment oilers, 4 Fleet Ocean Tugs, 11 large harbor tugs, 4 ocean surveillance ships, 4 container ships, 16 cargo ships (used for pre-positioning of Marine and Army materiel), and 7 vehicle cargo ships (also used for prepositioning).[1]
Ships denoted with the prefix USS are commissioned ships or are nearing completion for commissioning. US Navy support ships are often non-commissioned ships operated by and organized within Military Sealift Command. Those denoted USNS are owned by the US Navy; those denoted by MV are chartered.
There exist a number of former US Navy ships which are museum ships, some of which may be US government owned. One of these, the USS Constitution, a three-masted tall ship, is kept as a commissioned ship of the US Navy (and hence is listed here), as a special commemoration for that ship alone.
Current ships include commissioned warships that are in active service and also warships that are in the later stages of construction or that are undergoing sea trials but which have not yet gone through the ceremony of ship commissioning. Ships in early stages of construction (keel not yet laid down) are not included. Also included as current ships are support ships (usually denoted USNS) and leased ships (usually denoted MV) that are never commissioned but which are part of the effective force of the U.S. Navy.
There are about 436 ships listed here (238 USS ships, 198 USNS, MV, SS and other ships) that meet this definition of current ships.[1]
1.^ a b c Counts include commissioned, non-commissioned, and under construction current ships. Counts reported here may not have been updated for recent changes to tabulated information below.
I agree that no stable country, US, China, Soviet, British, Japan, India, etc. would want to instigate an all-out nuclear war but an unstable regime from the Middle East, or a country like Pakistan taken over by zealots, with a bomb and no compunction not to use it, represents a real and dangerous problem.
I'm not concerned with a joint Russia/China exercise. Neither Country wants to end the world.
